January 17, 2010 | Yvonne Lim Wilson
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Local attorney Ramey Ko was appointed municipal judge by the City of Austin on Jan. 14, making him the first ever Asian American judge to serve in Travis County.
Ko said he is honored by the appointment and acknowledged the work of other Asian Americans who came before him and those who currently work in the community.
“It makes me feel an enormous responsibly and obligation for our community that I represent them well as a judge,” Ko said. “Thank you so much for the entire Asian community being so supportive in this process.”
Ko will serve in a part-time, four-year term position as a municipal judge. He will be sworn in Feb. 5 at the City Council chambers at City Hall.
“I am so proud of and grateful to our Mayor and Members of the City Council for appointing an Asian American to serve on our Municipal Court. This appointment demonstrates their commitment to inclusion and diversity,” said Amy Wong Mok, CEO and president of the Asian American Cultural Center. “Ramey is a community-oriented leader. He will be a wise and just judge and he will serve the people of Austin well.”
A municipal judge presides over a municipal court, which handles cases concerning Class C misdemeanor criminal charges (traffic tickets, public intoxication and bad checks are examples). Municipal judges may issue search or arrest warrants and also may issue Emergency Protective Orders (EPO), which are orders for a person to keep away from someone.
Having an Asian American judge serve in this position is helpful to other minority groups, particularly those who may not speak very much English. Ko has had extensive experience working with immigrants, carefully explaining the law and their rights.
Ko will most likely continue work practicing civil law in a private practice, though he said he is considering starting work in public relations for non-profit organizations. As for day one on the job, Ko said he is looking forward to jail intake and release duties.
“I’ve heard it’s interesting. It’s a big mix of people who are arrested over the weekend and I’m interested in seeing what comes from that,” he said.
When asked about the significance of his appointment, Ko responded that as a judge, he would work to make sure Asian Americans are included in the government process.
“What Asian Americans want for their city is no different from what other Americans in the city want. The Asian American community is a visibly and rapidly growing community here in Austin. We will probably see Asian Americans involved in a lot more areas of government,” he said.ADVERTISEMENTS
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6 comments
Congrats Judge Ko!
Congrats Judge Ko!
Congrats Judge Ko!
Congrats Judge Ko! We're a stronger community with you on the bench
Congrats Judge Ko! We're a stronger community with you on the bench
Congrats Judge Ko! We're a stronger community with you on the bench